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About the Library

University LibrarianSusan Gibbons

Welcome to Yale University Library. We believe that immersion in the Library’s collections and engagement with our staff and services is what transforms the intellectual and academic development of our students, and is what distinguishes an education at Yale from all other academic institutions. We recognize that service to the Yale community is our top priority, and that goal drives us to be better in every way.

Our collection of nearly 15 million print and electronic volumes is housed in 15 libraries, including Sterling Memorial, Beinecke, and Bass libraries, the Center for Science and Social Science Information (CSSSI), as well as many other school and departmental libraries. Our astonishing collections range from ancient papyri and early printed books to digital collections and electronic databases; and they transcend a wide array of formats including text, photographs, video, audio, data, maps, and ephemera.

In building our magnificent collections over the last three centuries, Yale made a stewardship commitment to assist in the preservation of human knowledge. We also have a responsibility to bring digital resources to the Yale community and address the intimidating challenges of digital preservation head-on.

Engraved at the entrance to Sterling Memorial Library is the inscription: “The Library is the heart of the University.” Teaching and research have changed in many ways, yet the creation, preservation and dissemination of knowledge remains at the core of any university; and that is why the library is found at the heart of Yale.